In Australia this field is often referred to as 'Bush Adventure Therapy' (BAT) which can broadly be seen as a form of integrative outdoor healthcare. Encompased within a ethical, therapeutic and trauma informed frame it combines elements of contact with nature, often in small groups, engaging in healthy adventures of mind, body and spirit. It is a diverse field with people bringing in expertise from disciplines including neuroscience, psychology, social work, mental health practice, family therapy, narrative therapy, occupational therapy, animal assisted approaches and many more.

Via a recent meta-analysis, it has been shown that BAT and AT internationally is moderately effective in facilitating positive short-term change in behavioural, emotional, and interpersonal domains, which appears to be maintained in the longer term. (Bowen & Neil, 2012). This places AT credibly alongside other benchmark approaches such as CBT.

For us circles are symbolic of communities, of inclusive practices and wholeness – expanding and contracting yet remaining complete and unbroken. They are also important symbols within Indigenous cultures, and are well used in a variety of ways amongst contemporary Adventure Therapists around the world.

Within the wide arena of international adventure therapy, the 8IATC will provide a space and place to explore:

where our practices intersect or overlap

where new and old meet

what connects us, and

what contributions we can make to improve living conditions and environments around the globe.

International Adventure Therapy is a field with ample opportunity for innovation and creativity, and we welcome your contribution.

Martin was convener of the First IATC (1997) and was on the organising committee for the second, third and fourth. He is a full member of the International society for the psychoanalytic study of organisations (ISPSO), Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Director of Victoria Park Arts Centre, founder of Dynamics@Work peer network, past member of the Camping and Outdoor Education Association of Western Australia, conference committee member and previous member editorial board of the Australian Journal of Outdoor Education.

Dr Anita Pryor

Anita has been involved in the professionalisation of bush adventure therapy in Australia since before it was a ‘thing’ and is a die-hard IAT delegate, having attended all IATC since 2000. She initiated the First South Pacific Wilderness Adventure Therapy Forum in 2002, was keynote at 4IATC, co-chair of ATIC in 2012-2015, edited proceedings for 5IATC and 6IATC and was a keynote at the TAPG Best Practices conference in 2015. To establish an evidence base for the field in Australia, she completed a PhD in 2009 on Australian Outdoor Adventure Interventions, spanning history, current practices and literature evidence and has since co-developed a graduate-level BAT course in Australia.

Ben Knowles

Ben is the current Secretary of the Australian Association of Bush Adventure Therapy (AABAT) and Director of Adventure Works Australia Ltd. Over the last 15 years Ben has traversed the fields of outdoor education, teaching, training, bush adventure therapy and clinical therapy. After entering the adventure therapy world via the First South Pacific Wilderness Adventure Therapy Forum in Melbourne in 2002, Ben went on to become heavily involved in the establishment of AABAT in 2007/8. Since then he has been responsible for holding a number of roles, including a four-year term as Chairperson of the association (2010 – 2014).